Bobierrite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Bobierrite
Formula:
Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O
Colour:
Colorless to gray-white; colorless in transmitted light.
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Hardness:
2 - 2½
Specific Gravity:
2.195
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by James Dwight Dana in 1868 in honor of French agricultural chemist Pierre Adolphe Bobierre (May 7, 1823 Paris, France - September 18, 1881 Nantes, France), who first described the mineral.
Dimorph of:
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
701
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:701:8
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
e79a0745-0333-4f2c-9614-e4010b5486b6
IMA Classification of Bobierrite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1868
Classification of Bobierrite
8.CE.35
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O about 1:2.5
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
E : With only medium-sized cations, RO4:H2O about 1:2.5
40.3.7.1
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
3 : A3(XO4)2·xH2O
19.3.19
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Bob | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Bobierrite
Sub-Vitreous, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent
Comment:
Pearly cleavages
Colour:
Colorless to gray-white; colorless in transmitted light.
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 - 2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Sectile
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}, perfect.
On {010}, perfect.
Density:
2.195 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.17 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured density value is on artificial material.
Optical Data of Bobierrite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.510 - 1.547 nβ = 1.520 - 1.553 nγ = 1.543 - 1.582
2V:
Measured: 53° to 71°, Calculated: 52° to 73°
Birefringence:
0.032
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.033 - 0.035
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r
Optical Extinction:
Y = b, Z ∧ c = 27°-29°.
Pleochroism:
Non-pleochroic
Chemistry of Bobierrite
Mindat Formula:
Mg3(PO4)2 · 8H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Bobierrite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/b
Setting:
C2/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.667 Å, b = 27.926 Å, c = 10.067 Å
β = 105.01°
β = 105.01°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.167 : 1 : 0.36
Unit Cell V:
1,267.27 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals acicular or fibrous, minute, elongated [001] and flattened {010}. Also forms rosette-like flattened aggregates; lamellar; crystalline agglomerations; masive.
Comment:
Takagi, S., Mathew, M., and Brown, W. E. (1986) Crystal Structures of Bobierrite and Synthetic Mg3(PO4)2.8H2O. American Mineralogist: 71: 1229-1233.
Crystal Structure
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2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0001048 | Bobierrite | Takagi S, Mathew M, Brown W E (1986) Crystal structures of bobierrite and synthetic Mg3(PO4)2(H2O)8 American Mineralogist 71 1229-1233 | 1986 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
9.96 Å | (100) |
8.04 Å | (18) |
3.02 Å | (10) |
2.94 Å | (27) |
2.81 Å | (13) |
2.41 Å | (12) |
2.13 Å | (10) |
Comments:
Synthetic
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
52 : Guano- and urine-derived minerals | <0.4 |
53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Geological Setting:
Guano deposits.
Phosphatic fossils.
Late stage phosphate mineralization in granite pegmatite.
Phosphatic fossils.
Late stage phosphate mineralization in granite pegmatite.
Type Occurrence of Bobierrite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Six-sided minute prismatic crystals forming aggregates, embedded in guano.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines, Paris, France, number 4401.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Guano deposit.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Bobierrite
Other Language Names for Bobierrite
Relationship of Bobierrite to other Species
Chemically related to group(s):
Vivianite Group | M1M22(XO4)2 · 8H2O |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
8 photos of Bobierrite associated with Collinsite | Ca2Mg(PO4)2 · 2H2O |
6 photos of Bobierrite associated with Arthurite | CuFe3+2(AsO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
5 photos of Bobierrite associated with Kovdorskite | Mg2(PO4)(OH) · 3H2O |
4 photos of Bobierrite associated with Wavellite | Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)3 · 5H2O |
1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Kalicinite | KHCO3 |
1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
1 photo of Bobierrite associated with Rimkorolgite | (Mg,Mn)5(Ba,Sr,Ca)(PO4)4 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
8.CE.X | Babánekite | Cu3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE. | Monteneroite | Cu2+Mn2+2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.05 | Chudobaite | (Mg,Zn)5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O |
8.CE.05 | Geigerite | Mn2+5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O |
8.CE.10 | Newberyite | Mg(PO3OH) · 3H2O |
8.CE.15 | Brassite | Mg(HAsO4) · 4H2O |
8.CE.20 | Phosphorrösslerite | Mg(PO3OH) · 7H2O |
8.CE.20 | Rösslerite | Mg(HAsO4) · 7H2O |
8.CE.25 | Metaswitzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
8.CE.25 | Switzerite | Mn2+3(PO4)2 · 7H2O |
8.CE.30 | Lindackerite | CuCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
8.CE.30 | Ondrušite | CaCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 10H2O |
8.CE.30 | Veselovskýite | ZnCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
8.CE.30 | Pradetite | CoCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
8.CE.30 | Klajite | MnCu4(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9-10H2O |
8.CE.30 | Hloušekite | (Ni,Co)Cu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 9H2O |
8.CE.40 | Annabergite | Ni3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Arupite | Ni3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Barićite | (Mg,Fe)3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Erythrite | Co3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Ferrisymplesite | Fe3+3(AsO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
8.CE.40 | Hörnesite | Mg3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Köttigite | Zn3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Manganohörnesite | Mn2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Parasymplesite | Fe2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Vivianite | Fe2+Fe2+2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.40 | Pakhomovskyite | Co3(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.45 | Symplesite | Fe2+3(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
8.CE.50 | Cattiite | Mg3(PO4)2 · 22H2O |
8.CE.55 | Koninckite | Fe3+PO4 · 3H2O |
8.CE.60 | Kaňkite | FeAsO4 · 3.5H2O |
8.CE.60 | Hilarionite | Fe3+2(SO4)(AsO4)(OH) · 6H2O |
8.CE.65 | Steigerite | Al(VO4) · 3H2O |
8.CE.70 | Metaschoderite | Al2(PO4)(VO4) · 6H2O |
8.CE.70 | Schoderite | Al2(PO4)(VO4) · 8H2O |
8.CE.75 | Malhmoodite | FeZr(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
8.CE.75 | Zigrasite | MgZr(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
8.CE.75 | UM2009-11-PO:CaHZr | CaZr[PO4]2 · 4H2O |
8.CE.80 | Santabarbaraite | Fe3+3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5H2O |
8.CE.85 | Metaköttigite | (Zn,Fe,Fe)3(AsO4)2 · 8(H2O,OH) |
8.CE.90 | Slavkovite | Cu13(AsO4)6(AsO3OH)4 · 23H2O |
Fluorescence of Bobierrite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
Heated in a closed tube gives considerable water.
Notes:
Insoluble in water. Readily soluble in acids without effervescence.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Bobierrite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-701.html
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References for Bobierrite
Reference List:
Larsen, Esper S. (1921) The microscopic determination of the nonopaque minerals. Bulletin Vol. 679. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b679 p.49
Localities for Bobierrite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
| Mason et al. (1974) |
Canada | |
| Robinson et al. (1992) |
Robinson et al. (1992) | |
Chile (TL) | |
| Palache et al. (1951) |
Atencio et al. (2012) +1 other reference | |
China | |
| Yuan et al. (2015) |
Greece | |
| Rieck et al. (2022) |
Kenya | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
New Zealand | |
Railton et al. (1990) | |
Norway | |
| Michel (1893) +1 other reference |
Poland | |
| Ł. Kruszewski PXRD data (to be published soon) +3 other references |
Portugal | |
| Idoia Garate-Olabe et al. (Guarda, Portugal) |
| Schnorrer-Köhler (1991) |
Romania | |
| Onac et al. (1995) |
Russia | |
| Subbotin et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
[World of Stones 95:5-6 +4 other references | |
| [Lapis 1993:1 p13-15] |
Ukraine | |
| Chukanov (2005) |
| Shnykov E.F. at al. (1971) |
USA | |
| Gruner et al. (1943) +1 other reference |
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Kovdor Zheleznyi Mine, Kovdor Massif, Kovdorsky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia